In the 13 years I've worked at Crucible Specialty Metals, there have been two fatalities and countless injuries. The death toll could be much higher if not for luck. I've seen and heard of lots of what Crucible calls "near misses."

Hired into the tin shop, most of my workload was building guards for machinery -- just like what could have saved John Grobsmith from his fate.

Five years ago I left the tin shop after being accused of calling OSHA on them. Safety has never been first there as Crucible claims. Every employee will tell you that. When I went on their plant safety tour -- more like a housekeeping tour, where safety issues, when discovered, could go years unaddressed -- I was ostracized by the company and union for bringing up too much stuff.

What I'd like to know is the cost Crucible leaves society. What is the cost of all those workers hurt so badly they will never work again? Crucible skimped on its responsibility to protect their workers for years, all the while letting you hold the bag.

Charles Casler
Liverpool

Here's why union hasn't spoken out about unsafe conditions

To the Editor:

The purpose of this correspondence is to make commentary relative to your recent editorial, "Unsafe at Work." The editorial dealt with the subject of repeated violations at Crucible Specialty Metals in the wake of the death of a union worker in January.

The questions posed relative to repeated safety violations led themselves to a simple answer. Crucible Management and the United Steel Workers of America Local 1277 have definitely put a price tag on safety.

In the aftermath of John Grobsmith's tragic death, Crucible management said things that I am sure they felt that the public and the family wanted to hear. Strangely enough, there was no hue and cry from the union relative to safety issues. Union officials paid tribute to Grobsmith for the wonderful person he was but remained conspicuously silent on safety
problems at the plant. The plant is for sale, which would include all of its assets and liabilities. That clearly explains why Crucible officials have not made repairs relative to the multiple OSHA violations. They are facing proposed fines of $249,000, and the repairs and the fines would become the responsibility of the new owners if they, indeed, accept all of Crucible's liabilities.

It would seem that the union's silence is from their interest in protecting existing jobs. If the company has to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs, that well could trigger more temporary or permanent layoffs.

Without saying so, Crucible is indicating they can't afford safety. However, a good man died a horrible death. How can they not afford safety?

Let us hope that, collectively, management and the union place a greater value on human life so that this tragedy will not be repeated.